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• A poster stating in big bold letters: "If you are of Maori, Chinese, Asian or Pacific descent get yourself tested for Hepatitis B." • A public swimming pool sign that read: "Chinese people refrain from spitting."• A public bus driver refused to give a passenger a seat because "you Indians always do this".• A sub-contractor asked an employee to prove his birthplace with a passport and police clearance certificate, despite his family having been in New Zealand for 150 years.

The 23-year-old alleged Sir Peter was racist in telling her Waiheke Island was a "white man's"; the Kiwi businessman said it was a joke response to her claims being tangata whenua entitled her to do as she pleased.

"It's very important if you do step over the line you meet with those who have been offended and talk about it."

While Bridger took down the video posted on social media telling her story, she stood by her version of events on Wednesday. Meanwhile Sir Peter's spokeswoman said he wouldn't be engaging further in the row which continued to escalate on social media.

Massey University professor of sociology Paul Spoonley said it was easy to "step over the line", but said take ownership when a comment back-fired.

"It's very important if you do step over the line, you meet with those who have been offended and talk about it."

He said New Zealand was on the whole more open than other countries, but we still held "racist beliefs and racist institutions".

Spoonley described the country's racism as being in three levels; casual racism where people dismiss others and make jokes; racism targeted at recent migrants, a "recent dynamic"; and the third "ugly" racism on social media.

However, he said discussions around racism needed to stay in the open.

"Everybody has a stake in this, and we should all say what we think ... but give it respect.

"We need leaders to provide some direction and some substance to the debate ... because as soon as it goes online the debate gets very ugly, very quickly."

Human Rights Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy wasn't available to talk on the issue on Wednesday.